Title
To Recognize June 16, 2011 as the Sixth Annual National "Dump the Pump" Day
Body
WHEREAS, June 16, 2011, marks the sixth annual National "Dump the Pump" Day as a day that encourages people to ride public transportation to save money, protect the environment, reduce dependence on foreign oil, and improve the quality of life for all Americans; and
WHEREAS, people who ride public transportation can save, on average, more than $10,000 per year, based on today's gas prices, the cost of owning a car and the average unreserved parking rate; and
WHEREAS, for every $1 invested in public transportation, $4 is generated in economic returns; and
WHEREAS, U.S. public transportation use reduces the country's carbon footprint by 37 million metric tons-the equivalent of 4.9 million households using electricity in a year; and
WHEREAS, U.S. public transportation use saves 4.2 billion gallons of gasoline per year-the equivalent of 900,000 cars filling up every day; and
WHEREAS, public transportation use in 439 urban areas in the United States saved 785 million hours in travel time and 640 million gallons of fuel in 2009 and without public transportation congestion costs would have risen by nearly $19 billion; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
That we do hereby recognize June 16, 2011, as National "Dump the Pump" Day in Columbus, Ohio and that the Central Ohio Transit Authority will join with transit agencies across the country and participate in the sixth annual National "Dump the Pump" Day to encourage transit ridership on June 16, 2011.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Council encourages Columbus commuters to join The Central Ohio Transit Authority at Broad and High Streets between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on June 16, 2011 to learn more about how public transportation saves people money, helps the environment, reduces dependence on foreign oil, while COTA calculates fuel savings for people and gives commuters the opportunity to sign a commitment to "Dump the Pump" for a day.